Vaporizing tank for sterilizers



R. HARVEY VAPORIZING TANK FOR STERILIZERS April 5, 1949-.

Filed Npv. 1s, 1947 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATESy PATENT OFFICE VAPORIZIN G TANK FOR STERILIZERS Richard Harvey, West Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 13, 1947, Serial No. 785,577

Claims.

My invention relates to high pressure tanks and tank outlet regulators and more particularly to specially constructed valve outlet controls adapted for regulating the outflow 0f a highly volatile and vaporized sterilizing fluid from a reservoir into a chamber of a sterilizing apparatus.

Accordingly an object of my invention is to provide the sterilizing chamber with a suitably constructed header adapted for withstanding the gas pressure during the sterilizing operation; having means in said header for mounting therein a high pressure reservoir wherein the sterilizing fluid is stored; also having a suitably constructed valve means mounted in said reservoir and connecting said sterilizing chamber adapted for regulating the fluid flow therethrough; and in addition having a suitably constructed fluid outlet means and the closure therefor whereby the back pressure of the fluid vapor, so generated, may be restricted and controlled during the operation of the apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide a valve of such construction whereby the highly volatile gaseous lluid flow may be regulated with eXtreme accuracy and for preventing the damage and the leakage through the packing of the valve stem.

My invention also has for its object to provide means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical in manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention as will hereinafter more fully appear, I attain by the construction herein shown on the drawings and described in the specification, forming a part of my application.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which the similar reference characters denote the same parts.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary and vertically sectional View of the sterilizing tank, showing the position of a tank rear header in relation to the uid vaporizing tank.

Fig. 2 is a partially fragmentary view of the sterilizer and disclosing the elevational view of the sterilizing tank header, and also showing the relative position of the fluid vaporizing tank, taken from the right of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertically sectional and partly elevational view of the uid vaporizing tank and the uid control members, respectively, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

broader aspect, said invention comprises a sterilizing tank 2, which is enclosed in a housing member 4, the same being partially shown and which is specifically disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 686,801, led July 29, 1946.

Said sterilizing tank or chamber 2 is provided with a removable front enclosing member 6, which is provided with a suitable tray 8, wherein surgical and dental tools or instruments are deposited for the purpose of being sterilized.

At the opposite end I0. of said sterilizing tank 2 a suitable header member I2 is provided, which in construction the same is formed out of one piece of material thereby providing dur-ability and economy by way of manufacture and assembly and also serviceability when in operation.

The outer rim section I4, of said rear header member I2, is welded and sealed into place and upon said tank end I0, as shown, thereby attaining higher safety factors when said sterilizing tank is in operation.

Said rear header I2 is also provided with an outwardly formed concavity I6, having a circular rim or seat I8, which is disposed slightly above the center, as shown in Fig. 2, also, from said rim I8 a suitably lconcaved wall 20 is extended inwardly and into said tank 2, for forming an inner header member 22 of a vaporizing tank member 24.

The vaporizing tank 24 comprises a cylindrical shell 26, having a rim end 28 which is welded and sealed in said seat I8 of said rear header I2, also, said shell 26 is provided with an outwardly dished out end 30, as shown, thereby constructing a vaporizing tank which is hermetically sealed, the purpose and the operation of which will be presently described.

Each of said Wall 20 and said dished out end 30 is provided with inwardly formed depressions 32, each having a suitable passage 34 adapted for receiving therein a longitudinal valvular member 36, which is welded and sealed in each respective passage 34, and having the ends thereof protruding outwardly from said vaporizing tank 24, as shown.

Said rear header I2 having said concaved wall 26 which forms one end of said vaporizing tank 24, also the inner header 22 thereof including said inwardly extending depressions 32, are made specically in the form herein described, in order posed control member 40 operable by means of a handle 42, which is suitably attached to the outwardly extending valve stem 44.

The valve stem 44 and said control member 40 are made in one piece, andv is held in place by means of suitable threads 46, thus allowing said control member 49 to be` moved longitudinally in and out of said valve body 38.

In said valve body 38 a suitable chamber 48 is provided, which extends to the threaded portion thereof, also, in said chamber a suitable recess 5B is provided forA forming a valve seat 52, the center section of which is provided with a hole or passage 5.4-, leading partially into valve body endsection 56.

Saidl passage 54 is inter-connected by a suitable side passage 58 to which an outwardly extending tube 60 is connected, the end of which extends upwardly and terminates in close proximity to the upper wall of said shell 26.

Said vapor control member 45, at the front end (i2, isI slightly smaller in diameter as 'compared with the diameter of said chamber 48, thereby forming a passage 64, while the tip section 66 of said front end 62 is provided with a suitable insert B8 adapted for closing said valve seat 52 when said valve stem is screwed inwardly and disposed in closing position.

Said insert 3 is made out of suitable resilient material, such as flexible composition, iibroid or the like, which in use said insert will close said valve seat completely and will prevent the leakage of fluid vapors therearound or therethrough.

The recess 58 is provided with a connecting hole or passage 7E, which passes through said valve body end 55, allowing iiuid vapor to pass freely therethrough and providing an inter-connection for said fluid vapor between said sterilizing tank 2 and said vaporizing tank 24, when said valve tip section 6G is drawn back, thereby holding said valve open, as shown in Fig. 4.

The valve stem 44 is also provided with a suitable packing l which is held in place by means oi a packing gland 14 provided-with an outwardly extending gland nut 'i6 and disposed at the outside section of said housing 4, so that any immediate and necessary adjustments, upon said packing 'l2 may be had.

The upper section of said cylindrical shell 26 is provided with a suitable fluid filling member 18, which is tubular in structureV and extends upwardly and slightly beyond the outer surface section of said' housing 4, the end of which is enclosed by means of a plug member 80.

In operation, said vaporizing tank 24 is filled through said filling member '18, with suitable chemical compound, solution or fluid mass 82, see Fig. 1, and the valvular member 36 is held in closed position.

Said liuidal mass 32 is retained in said vaporizing tank 24 until heated and vaporized.

When the heat, generated by the electric current flowing through. the heating element 84, causes said sterilizing tank 2l to become heated,

said heat is also conducted to said vaporizing tank 24, causing said fluidal mass 82 to vaporize, and causing the fluid vapor to concentrate in the uppermost part of said shell 26, and above the fluidal mass remaining in liquid state.

It may be noted that the tube end section 85 of said extending tube B0, is disposed above said fluidal mass in liquid state and within the upper area of said shell 26 wherein said evaporated fluid is concentrated, thereby allowing only the gaseous fluid to be drawn into and through said tube 60.

When said valvular member 36 is opened, causing said valve tip section 66 to be drawn back and away from said valve seat 52, said gaseous fluid is allowed to pass through said extending `tube 60, entering said side passage 58, flowing through the passage 54 and past the valve seat 52 into the chamber 48, then passing into the recess 5i) and finally flowing through the passage 64 of said valve front end 62 and into said sterilizing chamber or tank 2.

In this manner said gaseous fluid passes freely past the said valve seat 52 and into said sterilizing tank 2, without drawing any oi said fluidal mass, in liquid state, from said vaporizing tank 24.

Also, it may be noted, that the luid pressure of the vapor, passing from one tank to another, when the valve is open will have no effect upon the valve packing l2, or, when said valve is closed, the concentrated pressure of fluid vapor in said tank 2 will have no effect upon said packing 12, because of the restricted passage B4 around said valve end G2, and thereby preventing entirely the leakage of said fluid vaporl around said valve stem 44.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject tomodications without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention.

I, therefore, do not Wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction herein illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within thev scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a sterilizing tank of the class described, comprising, a rear header in said tank, a concaved wall extending inwardly from said header and into said tank, a circular seat in said rear header and at the edge of said concaved wall; a

vaporizing tank having a cylindrical shell and a.

shell rim end for mounting said tank in said circular seat of said rear header, a dished out end: in said vaporizing. tank and at the opposite end of said shell, a depression in each of said concaved wall and said dished out end of said shell, a passage in each. depression, a valvular means mounted in said depressions, and valve. control means in said valvular means for controlling the passage of gaseousiuid passing from said vaporizing tank into said sterilizing tank.

2. In a sterilizing tank of the class described,

as disclosed in. claim l, wherein, an extending.

tube is provided in said valvular means and extending upwardly. into said vaporizing tank, for directing the gaseous fluid from said vaporizing tank' into said sterilizing tank.

3. Ina sterilizing tank of the class described, as disclosed in claim l, wherein, a fluid fillingI member is provided in said vaporizing tank vaporizing tank and for providing a space between the top level of the fluida] mass in liquid state and the intermediate topmost wall of said tank shell,

4. In a sterilizing tank of the class described, as disclosed in claim l, wherein said valvular means comprises a longitudinal body, a vapor flow control member mcvably mounted in said body, an internal thread in said body and cooperative thread in said flow control member for regulating the position of said flow control member in said body, a chamber in said body disposed in close proximity to the valve body end, a Valve seat in said chamber having a recess, a central passage in said valve seat directed to said vapor izing tank, a passage in said valve body end and connecting said recess in said chamber for directing the gaseous fluid flow into said sterilizing tank, an insert means at the end of said flow control member for enclosing said valve seat in said chamber and thereby controlling the gaseous uid flow from said Vaporizing tank into said sterilizing tank.

5. In a sterilizing tank of the class described as disclosed in claim l, wherein, said valvular means is provided with a vapor flow control member having a stem extending outwardly therefrom, a handle upon the extended end of said stem, a packing in said valvular means and around said stem for preventing leakage of gaseous uid therearound, and packing gland slidably mounted on said stem and adjustably positioned in said valvular means yfor holding said packing in sealed position and around said stem.

RICHARD HARVEY.

No references cited. 

